Inflatable life-saving dinghies



Oct. 16, 1962 GABRIELE HASSOLD NEE ENDRAS INFLATABLE LIFE-SAVING DINGHIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3. 1959 Fl6.l

INVENTOR.

GABRIELE HASSOLD Oct. 16, 1962 NEE ENDRAS INFLATABLE'LIFE-SAVING DINGHIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1959 INVENTOR. W HWQZA m W BY GABRIELE HASSOLD 9 NEE ENDRAS INFLATABLELIFE-SAVINGDINGHIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 3. 1959 FIGS ' INVENTOR. 1

WM BY United States Patent @flflce 3,058,127 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3,058,127 INFLATABLE LIFE-SAVING DINGHIES Gabriele Hassold, ne Endras, Augsburg-Goggingcn,

Germany, assignor to Ballonfabrik Augsburg, vorm.

A. Ricdinger, Augsburg, Germany, a firm Filed Feb. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 790,834 Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 4, 1958 9 Claims. (Cl. 9-41) The invention relates to an inflatable life-saving dinghy for one or two occupants. The invention has for its object to provide an inflatable dinghy with a hood which does not come into contact with the person lying or sitting in the boat and which on the other hand is automatically, i.e. without separate fixing means, held in its position in a completely or semi-closed condition.

According to the present invention, there is provided an inflatable arcuate hood support which is arranged at the head end and which is disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the dinghy and also a hood which is divided longitudinally of the dinghy and secured to the outside of the inflated dinghy wall and over its entire circumference, the two hood sections being of equal size and of such dimensions that each hood section can be pulled from the side with tension over the inflated hood support until beyond the apex thereof, so that each hood section is automatically held and both hood sections have a wide overlap when the hood is closed.

Further details of this novel inflatable dinghy and the advantages thereof are more fully explained hereinafter by the reference to the drawing, which shows one constructional example and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of an inflatable dinghy for one person, with the hood stretched and closed;

FIGURE 2. is the corresponding front elevation seen in the direction of A of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the dinghy;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section on the line IVIV of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the inflatable dinghy according to FIGURE 1 with the hood open; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the inflatable dinghy with the hood half closed.

The drawing shows an inflatable life-saving dinghy which is designed for one person and which consists essentially of the inflatable wall 1 and the floor or bottom which is formed of smaller inflatable panels 2. According to the invention this inflatable dinghy comprises an inflatable arcuate hood support 3 which is arranged at the head end of the dinghy and disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof, and also a hood which is divided longitudinally of the dinghy, the two hood sections 4a and 4b being of equal size and being fixed to the outside of the dinghy wall over the entire circumference thereof. When the hood is open, as shown in FIGURE 5, these two hood sections 4a and 4b are rolled up or furled and holding means, preferably loops 5 and toggles 6, are provided on the wall of the dinghy for holding these rolled hood sections. After releasing these holding means, each hood section can be pulled from the side over the inflated hood support 3, it being possible at will only to pull one hood section 4a according to FIG- URE 6 over the hood support, or even the other hood section 4b, so that a half-closed hood is formed, or both hood sections can be pulled over the hood support, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, so that then the hood is completely closed. As illustrated in the drawing, the two hood sections are so designed and of such dimensions that these can be drawn with tension over the inflated hood support 3 and in fact beyond the apex point 7, so that each hood section (see FIGURE 6 and FIGURE 2) is held automatically in its tensioned position, i.e. without separate securing means, and both hood sections have a wide overlap when the hood is closed (see FIG- ures 1 and 2).

This new design has the advantage that the occupant of the dinghy can be comfortable in the latter, i.e. both in a recumbent and a sitting position, without coming into contact with the tensioned hood. The handling of the two-part hood is moreover very much simplified because of the new design, since it is only necessary for tensioning the hood sections to pull these over the arcuate hood support 3, whereby the said sections are then automatically held in their position, and cannot be displaced by the force of the wind or the like. Due to this new design, it is also possible for the hood to be completely closed or only half closed, so that in the latter case (see FIG- URE 6) the occupant of the boat can conveniently keep a look-out. In order to permit visibility when the hood is completely closed, a window 8 is provided laterally on one or both hood sections.

Two inflatable booms 11 are also provided on both sides of the dinghy wall 1 at the head end, the hood support 3 opening into said booms. The arcuate support 3 thereof does not start from the wall 1 of the dinghy but rather from the two booms 11, this making possible a wider are 3 with greater stability. Due to this construction, this hood support 3 is so wide that the hood sections are also tensioned sufliciently far apart for the shoulders of the occupant not to touch the hood, whereby he has suflicient freedom of movement inside the dinghy.

As will be seen from the drawings, especially FIGURE 2, the height H of the hood support 3 is not substantially greater than half its width B. With these dimensions, the two hood sections 4a and 4b can without difiiculty be pulled over the apex 7 of the hood support, the hood sections being reliably held in position by the resilient tension of the hood support. With the hood support having the dimensions as indicated above, it is also possible for the hood sections 4a and 4b to be only partially raised, i.e. not as far as the apex 7, in which case there are also held in this position on the hood support.

As will also be seen from the drawing, more especially FIGURES l and 5, the apex 7 of the arcuate hood support 3 is displaced in the horizontal plane of projection (FIGURE 5) towards the rear end of the dinghy in relation to its base line b, so that therefore the hood support is somewhat bent, as shown in FIGURE 5, and is inclined rearwardly, as shown in FIGURE 1. This increases the elasticity of the hood support and the tension of the hood is improved. Furthermore, this arrangement of the hood support with a rearward inclination has the advantage that the back or head of the occupant cannot come into contact with the rear portion of the hood.

Finally, it is also to be seen from the drawing, more especially FIGURE 5, that the arcuate hood support 3 is reduced in cross-section towards the apex 7. For example, with a dinghy for a single person, the diameter D of the hood support can be about 18 cm. on the base line, while the diameter a at the apex can then amount to only about 12 cm.

The two boom-s 11 give the dinghy a greater lateral stability; Safety against capsizing is further increased by water bags 12, which are fixed to the underside of these two booms. Such a water bag 13 is also arranged at the foot end of the dinghy. These bags are formed in known manner with holes 14 which permit penetration of water and thus filling of the bags. For inflating the boat, a carbon dioxide bottle or the like is provided, as indicated at 15. Filling valves indicated at 16 serve for reinflating the boat.

The particular advantages of the novel inflatable dinghy can be seen from the drawing. By means of the new construction, the occupant of the boat is effectively protected from seawater, cold and sun.

In order to increase the safety of the inflatable dinghy in the event of one section thereof being damaged, two separate air chambers are provided. It is advantageous for the wall 1 of the dinghy to form an independent air chamber, while the inflatable bottom 2, the booms 1'1 and the hood support 3 are interconnected and form a second air chamber.

A skylight '10 consisting of a plastic foil can also be provided in one half 4:: of the hood, and the said skylight can be covered according to FIGURES 1 and 2 by the hood section 4b pulled thereover.

The invention is not limited to the constructional example which is illustrated. The life-saving dinghy can also be made in a corresponding larger form for two occupants. Since in this case the inflatable hood supportis given a greater supporting width, this hood support can if necessary be additionally supported in the middle by a strut member which can also 'be inflated.

What I claim is:

1. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely said body adjacent one end thereof and having an apex at a higher level than said body; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be tightly applied against said arcuate hood support to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

2. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely said body adjacent one end thereof and having an apex at a higher level than said body; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body and the combined lengths of said outer edge portions being greater than the periphery of said body so that the ends of said outer edge portions will overlap each other, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be tightly applied against said arcuate hood support to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

'3. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body having a tubular peripheral portion; a pair of inflatable extensions located at one end of said body, projecting respectively to opposite sides of said peripheral portion thereof, having substantially the same height as said peripheral portion and being located substantially at the same level as said portion, said inflatable extensions forming together with said inflatable body, when said extensions and said body are inflated, a substantially rigid structure; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely to said body adjacent said one end thereof and having a pair of arcuate portions projecting upwardly from said extensions; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be tightly applied against said arcuate hood support to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

4. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body having a tubular peripheral portion; a pair of inflatable extensions located at one end of said body, projecting respectively to opposite sides of said peripheral portion thereof, having substantially the same height as said peripheral portion and being located substantially at the same level as said portion, said inflatable extensions forming together with said inflatable body, when said extensions and said body are inflated, a substantially rigid structure; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely to said body adjacent said one end thereof and having a pair of arcuate portions projecting upwardly from said extensions; a water bag secured to the under side of each of said inflatable extensions and an additional water bag secured to the under side of said inflatable body in the center region of the other end thereof; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphcry of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood sup port and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be tightly applied against said arcuate hood support to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

5. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body having a tubular peripheral portion; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely said body adjacent one end thereof and having an apex at a higher level than said body; a pair of inflatable extensions located at said one end of said body, projecting respectively to opposite sides of said peripheral portion thereof, having substantially the same height as said peripheral portion and being located substantially at the same level as said portion, said inflatable arcuate hood support communicating at the lower ends thereof with said inflatable extensions, respectively; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pullin the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said areuate hood support so as to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

6. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely said body adjacent one end thereof and having an apex at a higher level than said body, said hood support having a height slightly greater than half of its widths and having in the apex region thereof a smaller radius of curvature than at the side portions thereof; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be tightly applied against said arcuate hood support to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

7. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely said body adjacent one end thereof and having an apex at a higher level than said body, said arcuate hood support having a tubular cross section tapering toward the apex thereof; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

8. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely said body adjacent one end thereof and having an apex at a higher level than said body, the apex portion of said hood support being spaced further from the other end of said body than the bottom portions thereof; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal di rection of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the Whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be tightly applied against said arcuate hood support to be securely held in the erected position by the tension indparted thereto.

9. An inflatable life-saving dinghy comprising, in combination, an inflatable body having an inflatable tubular peripheral wall portion forming a first air chamber and an inflatable bottom portion forming a second air chamber separated from the first air chamber; an inflatable arcuate hood support arranged transversely said body adjacent one end thereof and having an apex at a higher level than said body; a pair of inflatable extensions located at said one end of said body, projecting respectively to opposite sides of said peripheral portion thereof, having substantially the same height as said peripheral portion and being located substantially at the same level as said portion, said inflatable arcuate hood support communicating at the lower ends thereof With said inflatable extensions, respectively, said inflatable extensions communicating with said second air chamber; and a pair of flexible hood sections having inner edge portions extending in longitudinal direction of said body and outer edge portions fixedly secured along the whole length thereof to the outer periphery of said body so as to encircle the same completely, said hood sections being movable from a folded position folded along the periphery of said body to an erected position by pulling the inner edge portions of said sections over and beyond the apex of said arcuate hood support and said hood sections being dimensioned to be tensioned when pulled over said arcuate hood support so as to be securely held in the erected position by the tension imparted thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,396,212 Spanel Mar. 5, 1946 2,600,757 Grimston June 17, 1952 2,757,629 Wiltse Aug. 7, 1956 2,889,839 Sheridan June 9, 1959 2,908,919 Bicknell Oct. 20, 1959 2,955,606 Walker Oct. 11, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 698,149 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1953 740,709 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1955 820,412 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1959 527,063 Canada July 3, 1956 793,984 Great Britain Apr. 23, 1958 797,711 Great Britain July 9, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES The Motor Ship, December 1955, p. 104a, 

